What you will study
Part I: Research Design and Methodology
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- Nature and process of social/business research
- Research ethics
- Research design and strategies
- Planning a small-scale research project and formulating research questions
- Reviewing the literature
- Collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data
- Writing research articles and a final report
- Presenting research results in MS PowerPoint
Part II: Overview of Major Developments and Trends in Area of Specialisation
As part of the research qualification, candidates will review recent publications in their area of interest to submit a presentation on the latest developments and future trends in their field of study (finance, law, business management or education).
Part III: English for Academic Purposes
As research involves extensive reading and academic writing in a chosen professional field, candidates will be able to improve their Academic English skills in one of the following specialisations:
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- Law and Legal Studies
- Management Science
- Accounting and Finance
- Banking and Investment
- Economy and Society
- International Development and Finance
- Economy and Political Science
- Professional Education
Part IV: Optional Courses
To complete your qualification, you will be able to select any two optional courses* that suit your research interests and professional needs most. You can consult our A to Z course list to select any 2-week to 6-month courses that you can study for the purpose of your research.
* The optional courses are free if taken as part of this qualification. You will be sent details about registration for the optional courses after you start your studies with us.
Key features of the course
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- Flexibility to suit your needs – allowing you to study anytime, anywhere
- An emphasis on personal and professional development through independent learning
- Relevance of topics and practical examples to the context of your own professional practice
- Guided independent study, directed research and reading as well as tutor-marked assignments, including a portfolio of research articles and a final report, to reinforce learning
- Advanced diploma from London School of Finance and Law upon course completion
This non-credit advanced diploma is intended for experienced professionals who want to upgrade their professional skills by developing research skills to investigate a topic of interest in the fields of business management, finance, tax law, business and financial journalism or education.
This course can be taken alongside your professional studies elsewhere or as part of your informal career development programme. It will be of particular value to educators, journalists as well as tax, accounting and finance practitioners who are planning to enrol in a higher-level research degree at a university or are involved in research projects at work.
You will be encouraged to relate the content of the module to your own professional experience. Therefore, you will need access to formal or informal workplace settings relevant to your chosen research topic to collect primary data. Alternatively, you may opt out for desk research based on a review of models and theories and the analysis of secondary data derived from official sources or existing research findings.
When enrolled in this course, you will work alongside our research team at the LSFL Centre for Research in International Finance and Law. Your research articles will be published in our School’s finance magazines and research journal, providing you with a proven record of publications.
You may be eligible for research funding. Find more information about research at LSFL here.
Learning outcomes
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- Knowledge and understanding of core subject areas
- Independent and critical thinking
- Problem-solving and reasoning
- Practical and professional skills
- Data handling, analytical skills and overall research literacy
- Communication, team working and time management skills
Career relevance
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- Business administration
- General management
- Management consultancy
- Accounting professions
- Financial management
- Tax advisory
- Investment analysis and management
- Sales and marketing
- Risk management
- Business and financial journalism
- Professional training
- Further education
- Educational management
- English for Specific Purpose (ESP) teaching
- Coaching, mentoring and counselling in finance, tax advisory and business management
- Government offices and NGOs
Study method
Online learning with tutor guidance and support
How long it takes
12 months (576 hours)
You need to be able to spend approximately 12 hours per week on studying this module.
Teaching and assessment
A tutor will guide you throughout the study process and mark and comment on your written work. You and your tutor will primarily communicate with each other through email.
The course work includes tutor-marked assignments and end-of-module assessment. The end–of-course assessment includes (a) an MS PowerPoint presentation on the latest developments and future trends in your area of research interest, (b) a portfolio of research articles, and (c) a 50-60 page report describing the results of your conducted study, accompanied by a 10-15 slide MS PowerPoint presentation with a brief outline of the research process and results.
You must use the online VLE-system to submit your tutor-marked assignments and end-of-module assessment.
The Pass mark for the module is 50%. Upon successful completion, students are awarded an advanced diploma from London School of Finance and Law.
Study materials
All study materials are provided on the module website.
Microsoft Office presentations and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of study material are available.
A computer with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Functionality may be limited on mobile or tablet devices.
If you have a disability or particular study requirements, please tell us as soon as possible.
Fees and funding
Course fees for the 2025/2026 academic year: £3,432
Course fees cover registration, course materials, tuition and assessment.
LSFL course fees depend on the level and duration of courses: check all tuition fee rates for the current academic year here.
You may be eligible for tuition funding.
Registration
Next term start date: 20 September 2025
The module website will be available to registered students three days in advance of the module start. Module sessions will be opened every week or every two weeks to enable tutor-led, gradual progression through the study materials and continuous assessment.
Course registration is open, but please be aware that due to the increased demand it may take us longer to respond than usual.
Registration closes 10 September 2025 (places subject to availability)
Registration for current students:
Registration for new students:
You have to register as an LSFL student to study this course.
Future availability
Researching a Project in Finance/Law/Management/Education starts three times a year – in January, May and September.
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English language requirements
There is no formal requirement to prove your English language proficiency to study our courses. If English is not your native or second language, or you would like to improve specialist language skills necessary for your profession, you may complete one of the following English language courses:
A full range of our English language courses can be viewed here.